MANILA, Philippines?Former Zamboanga del Norte representative Romeo Jalosjos has asked President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to grant him absolute pardon that would allow him to run again for public office 12 years after he was convicted of raping an 11-year old girl.

Although convicted by the Makati Regional Trial Court in December 1997 and sentenced to two life terms, Jalosjos managed to run and win re-election in 1998 and 2001 while behind bars.

He was only dropped from the House of Representatives rolls when the Supreme Court affirmed the guilty verdict in 2002.

In June 2007, Arroyo commuted his sentence to 16 years, three months and three days, which allowed the convicted child rapist to walk out of jail for good, several months later, although he actually served only 12 years since he was credited with Good Conduct Time Allowance.

A check with the Board of Pardons and Parole Thursday showed the former congressman applied for absolute pardon before Malacañang on September 30, or two months before the deadline for the filing of certificates of candidacy on December 1 ( originally November 30) for the May 10, 2010 national elections.

An absolute pardon from the President would restore Jalosjos' political rights, including his right of suffrage?the right to vote and be voted upon?which he lost when the Supreme Court affirmed his conviction.

The Office of the President ?endorsed? or transmitted his application to the BPP on Oct. 22 for evaluation and recommendation.

Jalosjos' pending application officially landed on BPP's desk on October 30.

When reached by phone, BPP Administrator Ismael Heradura denied rumors that Malacañang has granted Jalosjos absolute pardon.

He also explained that Malacañang neither favorably or unfavorably endorsed Jalosjos' application for pardon.

?It is under evaluation and further study by the board,? he stressed.

An agency under the Department of Justice, the BPP acts as a recommendatory body to the President in granting executive clemency or pardon to prisoners other than those entitled to parole.

The President would be well within her power to grant a prisoner absolute pardon without seeking the opinion of the BPP, as what she did when she pardoned former president Joseph Estrada who was convicted of plunder, explained a BPP official who asked not to be named for not being authorized to speak to the media on these matters.

The fact, however, that Malacañang transmitted Jalosjos' application to the BPP meant that Jalosjos would have to go through the guidelines and requirements of the board in determining his eligibility for absolute pardon, the official said.

When interviewed last month, Jalosjos said he might run for Congress again if Ms Arroyo were to grant him absolute pardon.

He expressed confidence of winning again because he had won the same seat twice from prison. ?How much more now that I?m out of prison?? he said.

He reiterated his threat to sue former president Fidel V. Ramos, former vice president Teofisto Guingona and former Supreme Court associate justice Consuelo Yñares-Santiago for besmirching his reputation.